Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/331457
His team was also involved in the expansion of the Canadian LEED sys- tem that now has a point for durability, unlike the U.S. version. "This goes hand- in-hand with our research because if you design a building for energy effi- ciency, but it's not durable and you have to tear apart the building to fix it, that building practice is neither green nor sustainable," says McGowan. "It is also not a responsible use of materials and resources. If you incorporate LEED cri- teria into the design to begin with, in 20 years the building will be just as green as it was when it was first built. It will be sustainable and durable, which is the most important thing to consider. Unfortunately, not everybody thinks in those terms." Williams Engineering Canada was honoured with the 2014 CEA Award of Merit in Sustainable Design for the com- pany's work on the Jasper Place Library in Edmonton, Alberta. This is only one example of the energy efficient work the company strives to maintain. "All of the projects we do for the City of Edmon- ton are LEED Silver certified, which is the mandate," says Chad Musselwhite, team lead, mechanical, at Williams Engineering. "We have done other projects with them as well, including the Coronation Community Recreation Centre, which is going to have a velodrome." In addition to the City of Edmonton, other clients include both the Alberta and federal governments. All three have mandates for LEED performance on all of their projects. "Quite a few private developers are starting to incorporate these types of initiatives into their buildings because there is an interest in building facilities for people who are going to lease space," says Musselwhite. "They want to have a differentiation that is often the sustainability factor." He adds that Williams Engineering tried to incorporate sustainable and energy-efficient options wherever they can. "In a number of projects we have used thermal displacement ventilation, which is a highly efficient means of ventilating a space and getting a high level of air quality with minimal amount of energy used. It's all about matching and integrating with the existing architecture as tightly as possible so that they work together." Marine Gateway, Vancouver. Courtesy FortisBC. Sustainable Building Design June 2014 /37 With projects that seek the highest standards of sustainability. By designers committed to integrating sustainable design. rjc.ca The Exchange, Vancouver Projected LEED® Platinum Eighth Avenue Place, Calgary LEED® Platinum Certified Reliable Controls Headquarters, Victoria LEED® Platinum Certified Image credit: D'AMBROSIO architecture LEED p.34-39Sustainable.indd 37 14-06-03 9:46 AM